On Thursday, January 29^th, 2026, the Ashesi Judicial Committee (AJC) heard and deliberated on a case of cheating during the Operations Management end-of-semester examinations. The Committee found the student guilty of examination misconduct. It concluded that the student, originally a member of the Class of 2026, will fail the course and be suspended for a semester.

Background to the case:

During the exam, the student was found inside a washroom stall actively using an AI app on their mobile phone to seek answers to exam questions. The mobile phone was confiscated and presented to the lecturer as evidence. The incident was subsequently reported to the Dean and referred to the AJC for adjudication.

At the hearing:

The Committee received statements from the student admitting to violating the exam code of conduct. The student also admitted same when invited into the hearing. This was considered in the deliberations of the committee.

The AJC deliberated on the following infractions of policies in the Student Handbook:

• “Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism, unauthorized exchange of information or use of material during an examination…” (Section 7.4).
• “During an examination, students are not allowed to talk to each other, …or engage in any activity that could result in the unfair advantage for one or more students before, during, or after the quiz or exam, while they are in or out of the classroom.” (Section 8.1)

 Verdict & Recommendations

The Committee found the student guilty of cheating and violating the examination code of conduct. The student will be suspended for one semester (January-May 2026) and fail the course.

The Committee would like to advise that:

1. Students are responsible for their academic journey and need to seek the necessary help as early as possible when they encounter any difficulties in any of their courses. Procrastination should be avoided, as it may lead to avoidable and compromising situations.
2. Students must avoid bringing unauthorised electronic devices, smart watches or any other device into an exam hall.
3. Students must learn from past infractions, to understand the expectations of the Ashesi community and their responsibility in ensuring trust.

This case provides a lot of learning for the entire community, and the hope is that it is reflected on as such. Our code of ethics is central to our mission: to train a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders in Africa; to cultivate within our students the critical thinking skills, concern for others, and the courage it will take to transform a continent. This code applies to all, no matter the circumstance.